Question

A patient with ICP monitoring has pressure of 12 mm Hg. The nurse understand that this pressure reflects

a. a severe decrease in cerebral perfusion pressure
b. an alteration in the production of CSF
c. the loss of autoregulatory control of ICP
d. a normal balance between brain tissue, blood, and CSF

Answer 1

A patient with an ICP measurement of 12 mm Hg is within the normal range, reflecting a balance between brain tissue, blood, and CSF.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient with ICP monitoring has a pressure of 12 mm Hg. This pressure typically reflects a normal balance between brain tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The range of normal pressure in the fluid surrounding the brain and filling the spinal column is typically 5- to 12-mm Hg. The CSF serves many purposes such as supplying flotation to the brain, protecting the neural structures, and maintaining cerebral perfusion. A pressure within this range indicates that the buoyant force supplied by the CSF nearly equals the weight of the brain, preventing the brain from resting on the inside of the skull which could cause severe headaches and damage.